Apparatus for playing race games



Jan. 10, 1933. F. A. A. EVANS APPARATUS FOR PLAYING RACE GAMES,

2 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 16. 1930 I INVEILITOR BY gfll ATTORNEY Jan. 10, 1933.

F. A. A. EVANS APPARATUS FOR PLAYING RACE GAMES Filed June 16. 1950 2 Sheets-$heet 2 ywmwm @mm,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. ltl, 1933 UNITED STATES FREDERICK ALEXANDER ALLEN EVANS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND APPARATUS FOR PLAYING RACE GAMES Application filed June 16, 1930, Serial No. 461,374, and in Great Britain June 24, 1929.

This invention relates to race games of the kind in which a single track is adapted to be vibrated.

In games of this kind as hitherto proposed it has not been possible to move the men or pieces both up and also down the track. For example, in British patent specification No. 345, 57 dated 22nd September, 1928, which relates to agame of this kind already known and is typical of such games, the pieces employed can only traverse the track in one direction, and on reaching the end of the track they must be lifted bodily and restored to their starting position at the other end of the track.

This is due to the fact that such tracks as hitherto employed have been based on the well-known jigger conveyor principle in which the conveyor is vibrated to and fro,

the vibration in one direction taking a much longer time (and consequently having a less velocity) than the vibration in the other direction, with the result that during the quick return movement of the track the inertia of the pieces is too great to enable them to share the return movement, but they can share the slower forward movement with the result that they are progressed in the direction of the slowervibration alone.

The object of the present invention is to provide a game apparatus of the kind above described in which it is possible for the men or pieces to move both up and down the track, and to eifect this if desired without the necessity for handlin the pieces at all.

Forthis purpose in a race game apparatus made according to the present invention the men or pieces are provided with teeth or projections which engage in the material of the track in such away that the men or pieces are carried forward in the head on direction for the time being.

According to the present invention also the men or pieces may be provided with other teeth or projections adapted to assist the pieces to turn on the track as more fully described hereafter. Q rbutmeuts on the track may be associated wit the track and with the men or pieces to co-act with the said teeth.

It has been found that in a game apparatus made according to the present invention it is preferable to havea track in which the vibrations in both directions are of approximately equal velocities, that'is to say, '55 the vibrations in one direction take approximately the same time as the vibrations in the other direction. 1

Such equal vibrations'may be imparted to V the track by employing suitable operating 50 mechanism as hereafter more fully described.

It is found in practice that when a track having substantially equal velocities is employed the progression of the menor pieces on a track according to the present invention is smoother,-more uniform and'more rapid than in games'of the kind above referred to as hitherto proposed.

The invention will be illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view, Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section, Fig. 3 is an underneath plan of a detailed construction, Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views.

Referring to the drawings, the game comprises a sheet of farbric a constituting a track looped over end members 6, Z), and mounted in a collapsible frame consisting of side members 0, 0, end member at and the end member I) already referred to. The side members 0, c in the form illustrated each consist of three separate rods detachably connected together by means of sleeves such as (Z which are fixed to one of the side rods. The track a is connected to end member cl of the frame through a spring 6. The track is adapted to be vibrated by the mechanism shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3.

Referring to these figures, a. wheel g is accommodated in the box f to the bottom of which it is secured by the pin 72,. An extension. 9 fixed to the Wheel 9 projects through the hole iin the top of the box 1'' and is fixed to an operating handle The arrangement is such that the wheel 9 can be rotated on the pin it by rotating the handle A rubber band 76 ts tightly in a peripheral groove 011 the wheel 9 and is normally in contact with the roller Z. The roller Z carries extending from its base an eccentric pin 1% to whichis fixed a hook a. It will be seen that on rotation of the wheel 9 the roller Z will be rotated together with the pin m, whereby a reciprocating motion will be communicated to the hook n. On referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the roller Z is pressed against the rubber ring surrounding the wheel 9 by means of a spring 0 fixed at the end p to the bottom of the box f and at the other end to a plate 9 which carries the roller Z.

Details of the men or pieces used in the game in accordance with the present invention are shown in Figs. 4 and 5 which illustrate respectively an elevation and an underneath plan. In the plan it will be seen that a projection or tooth 10 is provided parallel to the longitudinal axis, and another tooth 11 inclined to the longitudinal axis of the piece is also shown. The function of the tooth 10 is to engage in the material of the track a and to positively prevent backward movement thereon, whilst allowing forward movement. The function of the tooth 11 is to assist the piece to turn on the track. To further this turning movement an abutment 12 extending from the top of the piece is also provided, together with transverse bars 13 detachably connected by means of spring clips or the like to the side members 0, 0 of the frame at each end thereof. In use the projection 12 is adapted to abut against one of the transverse rods 13 and in co-operation with the tooth 11 the piece is caused to turn round and to move in the opposite direction.

In use the game is assembled on a table or other supporting surface as shown in Fig. l of the drawings, and the men are placed on the track a pointing in the direction of movement required. The handle j is rotated thereby imparting a rotary movement to the wheel 9, the roller Z and the eccentric pin m, and this latter imparts a reciprocating movement to the hook 17., whereby the track a is vibrated. It is to be noted that the operating mechanism shown is such that the velocities of the vibrations in each direction are equal. It will be obvious that the men will only share he forward vibrations of the track a, participation in the rearward vibrations being prevented by the projection 10, which engages in the fabric of the track a. IVhen the men reach the end of the track a the abutments 12, 13 together with the tooth 11 all co-operate to cause the piece to turn round and to travel in the opposite direction.

The movement of the men over the sheet a in a game made according to the present invention is both rapid and smooth.

A device made according to the present invention may be used for advertising or display purposes.

When the device is used as a race game the vibrating surface may be varied by painting discs, or by sticking pieces of paper thereon for example as shown at 25 or by other means. This has the eflect of retarding the progress of those men encountering the different surface.

A race game made according to the present invention is not to be confused with a race game apparatus in which the men or pieces are provided with a material such, for example, as plush intermediate of the top and base of the said pieces, in order to increase friction between the pieces and any elevated obstacles which may be placed on the course and with which the said plush comes into contact. Any such pieces of plush serve purely and simply to prevent the men or pieces slipping downwards when surmounting the said obstacles.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Racing game comprising a track, means i for vibrating the track, and an overhead rail on the track, in combination with playing pieces which can be displaced on the track under the influence of the vibrations, a mast on the upper side of each piece, a tooth-like projection on the base of each piece, so arranged in relation to the position of the mast that the mast, projection, and overhead rail coact mutually to cause the men or pieces to turn, a portion of each piece passing under the overhead rail during the turning movement.

2. Racing game comprising a flexible track, means for vibrating the track, and an overhead rail on the track, in combination with playing pieces which can be displaced on the track under the influence of the vibrations, a mast on the upper side of each piece, a tooth-like projection on the base of each piece, so arranged in relation to the position of the mast that the mast, projection, and overhead rail coact mutually to cause the men or pieces to turn, a portion of each piece passing under the overhead rail during the turning movement.

3. Racing game comprising a woven fabric track, means for vibrating the track, and an overhead rail on the track, in combination with playing pieces which can be displaced on the track under the influence of the vibrations, a mast on the upper side of each piece, a tooth-like projection on the base of each piece, so arranged in relation to the mast that the mast, projection and overhead rail coact mutually to cause the men or pieces to turn, a portion of each piece passing under the overhead rail during the turning movement.

4. A race game comprising a track, a collapsible frame in which the track is mounted, means for vibrating the track, and an overhead rail on the track, in combination with playing pieces which can be displaced on the track under the influence of the vibrations, a mast on the upper side of each piece, a

tooth-like projection on the base of each piece, so arranged in relation to the position of the mast that the mast, projection, and overhead rail coact mutually to cause the men or pieces to turn, a portion of each piece passing under the overhead rail during the turning movement.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FREDERICK ALEXANDER ALLEN EVANS. 

